Anti-flea epoxide hydrolase antibodies and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to arthropod epoxide hydrolase proteins; to arthropod epoxide hydrolase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such epoxide hydrolase proteins; to antibodies raised against such epoxide hydrolase proteins; and to other compounds that inhibit arthropod epoxide hydrolase activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from hematophagous arthropod infestation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An isolated antibody that selectively binds to a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:31, and SEQ ID NO:33. 
     
     
       2. The antibody of claim  1 , wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27 and SEQ ID NO:32. 
     
     
       3. The antibody of claim  1 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
       4. The antibody of claim  1 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody. 
     
     
       5. A composition comprising an excipient and an isolated antibody that selectively binds to a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:31, and SEQ ID NO:33. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim  5 , wherein said composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an adjuvant and a carrier. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim  5 , wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, and SEQ ID NO:32. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim  5 , wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim  5 , wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.